Our Mission

The mission of the School of Education is to equip Christian educators to impact public, private, mission, and home schools through biblically centered education, scholarship and service.

Our vision is to equip a generation of influential educators, focused on God's calling, devoting their strengths, gifts and scholarship, to meet the needs of diverse students and to advance the Kingdom of God.

Biola's distinctive of biblically centered education shapes not only the values of its faculty and staff as they equip the next generation of influential educators, but also all graduate programs. The following are the learning outcomes for each of our graduate programs: Students graduating from the Master of Arts in Teaching program will demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

Understanding of Current Educational Issues
Synthesize knowledge, skills, and perspectives from concentration-specific content of the master of teaching program to determine implications for professional practice (ULO 2).

Professional Excellence
Demonstrate Christian attitudes and actions conducive to the development of professional excellence and witness to the community (ULO 3).

Quality Research
Exhibit growth in one’s professional practice by utilizing professional databases, conducting empirical research, and articulating findings through effective writing. (ULO 1, 2, 3).
Evaluate qualitative and quantitative journal articles based on standard criteria within the profession (ULO 3).

Collaboration Skills
Exercise discernment, individually and in team settings, creatively solving problems as contextual needs emerge within the educational community (ULO 2, 3).

Constructive Change Agents
Demonstrate God's calling to maximize one's leadership skills, demonstrating the qualities of a constructive change agent in the educational community to advance the Kingdom of God (ULO 3).

Understanding of Current Education Issues
Synthesize knowledge, skills, and perspectives from concentration-specific content of the master of education program to determine implications for professional practice (ULO 2).

Professional Excellence
Demonstrate Christian attitudes and actions conducive to the development of professional excellence and witness to the community (ULO 3).

Quality Research
Exhibit growth in one’s professional practice by utilizing professional databases, conducting empirical research, and articulating findings through effective writing. (ULO 1, 2, 3).
Evaluate qualitative and quantitative journal articles based on standard criteria within the profession (ULO 3).

Collaboration Skills
Exercise discernment, individually and in team settings, creatively solving problems as contextual needs emerge within the educational community (ULO 2, 3).

Constructive Change Agents
Demonstrate God’s calling to maximize one’s leadership skills, demonstrating the qualities of a constructive change agent in the educational community to advance the Kingdom of God (ULO 3).

Obtain Expert Knowledge in field of Curriculum & Publishing
Synthesize knowledge, skills, and perspectives from concentration-specific content of the master of science program to determine implications for professional practice (ULO 2).
Write compelling grant requests and textbook or curriculum proposals for publishers (ULO 1).
Apply motivation and learning theory as candidates prepare curricula to appeal to students diverse in backgrounds, interests and abilities (ULO 1, 2).

Biblical Perspective
Analyze, evaluate, and apply knowledge of current special education settings, and legislative requirements from a biblical perspective (ULO 1).
Identify and articulate God’s calling as Christian educators by reflecting on their spiritual journey and their educational preparation (ULO 1, 2, 3).

Curriculum Differentiation
Examine and analyze their students’ cognitive, social, and physical growth through the gathering of student profile data, monitoring their progress, and providing constructive feedback to maximize students’ optimum development (ULO 1).
Demonstrate respect for diversity in cross-cultural and special population educational settings in order to promote equity and justice (ULO 1, 2, 3).
Design and implement developmentally appropriate lessons, by using the California state-adopted academic content and Common Core Standards as a foundation for lessons (ULO 1, 3).
Design and implement appropriate and learning strategies (ULO 1, 3).
Design and practice strategies that foster a safe and equitable learning environment that encourages students to take intellectual risks (ULO 1, 3).

Professional Excellence
Design and implement appropriate adaptations to ensure the attainment of a productive learning environment for each student enrolled in candidates’ classes. Candidates will also utilize developmental and learning theories as a foundation for professional decision-making and reflection (ULO 1, 3).

Quality Research
Exhibit initial commitment to lifelong learning by utilizing professional databases to enhance one's professional practice and by writing effectively to edify one's educational community (ULO 1, 2, 3).
Evaluate qualitative and quantitative journal articles as well as conduct publishable research (ULO 3).

*Students intending to complete MS Special Education with the Special Education Credential will have additional PLO requirements. See advisor for details.